Crabby but Cute Summer Birthday Card with Lea

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Hey, crafty friends! Lea Lawson here today with a bright and beachy shaker card featuring the charming Hey Honeycomb Crab — one of my favorite little characters for summer crafting. This playful design layers texture, sparkle, and movement, thanks to the Making Waves 3D embossing folder & die, a sea‑colored shaker mix, and that irresistible honeycomb tummy from the Honeycomb Balls Heat Wave Mix.

I started by creating an edge‑to‑edge shaker panel, which sits behind the glittery die‑cut wave pattern. This technique is wonderfully simple and gives the whole card a magical, underwater shimmer. I filled the shaker with a mix of sea‑inspired sequins — blues, aquas, greens, and a touch of sparkle — to echo the ocean theme.

On top of the waves, I added the adorable Hey Honeycomb Crab, complete with his dimensional honeycomb belly. The crab is diecut from bright red cardstock, and I tucked the folded honeycomb ball right into place for that fun pop‑up effect. His big eyes and cheerful claws make him the perfect focal point for a summer birthday card.

The sentiment comes from the Hey Honeycomb Summer Sentiments set — a playful, pun‑filled collection that pairs perfectly with this little guy. I heat embossed it in crisp white so it stands out against all the color and texture happening in the background.

Supplies

• Hey Honeycomb Crab die
• Making Waves 3D embossing folder & die
• Hey Honeycomb Summer Sentiments
• Honeycomb Balls Heat Wave Mix
• Sea‑colored shaker mix
• Glitter cardstock
• Red, white, and aqua cardstock
• Embossing ink & white embossing powder

A Few Tips

• Edge‑to‑edge shakers are perfect when you want movement without bulky foam tape.
• Glitter cardstock adds instant “sunlight on water” vibes when paired with wave dies.
• Honeycomb embellishments fold flat for mailing but pop open beautifully when displayed.

An edge‑to‑edge shaker panel is one of the quickest ways to add sparkle and movement to your cards. Instead of building a traditional shaker frame, simply wrap a piece of clear plastic around your background like a little gift, so the shaker mix can dance freely from corner to corner.

To make one, place your background face down on a piece of clear cellophane wrap (you could also use a sheet of acetate or transparency). Add double sided tape to all four edges, and remove the release paper from three of the edges. Fold the clear wrap over and adhere to the tape. Pour in your favorite shaker mix, then seal the final edge. Trim away any excess folded over clear packaging if it sticks out. Once it’s wrapped and ready, adhere the finished panel to your card front for instant shimmer and shine!

Closing Thoughts

This little crab brings so much personality to a card, and pairing him with a sparkly ocean shaker background makes the whole design feel lively and joyful. It’s a great summer birthday idea — or just a fun way to send a smile. I hope you enjoyed this adorable “crabby” birthday card!

~Lea